Glass polishing tools



Qfit. 29, 1935. F B WALDRQN 2,919,204

GLASS POLISHING TOOLS Filed May 11, 1954 Patented Oct. 29, 1935 STATES pairs PATENT QFEEQE GLASS POLISHING TOOLS Application May 11, 1984, Serial No. 725,146 In Great Britain May 19, 1933 2 Claims.

This invention relates to polishing tools for flat glass and has for its object an improved form of polishing tool.

In the specification of Letters Patent No.

5 1,946,955 there is described and shown a polishtool frame comprising a plurality of tools in which the whole polish-tool frame is pressed against the glass by pressure applied to the frame, and this total pressure is distributed between 10 the individual tools in any desired proportion by means of a mechanical linkage.

According to this invention, which is an improvement in or modification of that claimed in the specification of the above mentioned Patent 15 No, 1,946,955, each 1:001 is the moving element of a hydraulic press, while the liquid chambers of all the presses are connected together to form a closed system, which is substantially filled with liquid so that While each individually can yield,

the operative surface as a whole is substantially non-yielding. I

The polishing tool frame is preferably provided with means for varying the amount of liquid in the closed system, whereby the position of the 25 tools as a whole can be adjusted in a direction perpendicular to the glass.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a horizontal view of a polishing tool frame with four too1s (of which only two are 30 shown), looking upwards and showing the parts above the line A-A of Figure 2, and

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the line BB of Figure 1, showing diagrammatically the means of water supply.

35 The drawing shows a polishing tool frame of the type in which a frame i fixed on a shaft 2, which is adapted to be rotated, carries four tools 3, 3, in the form of felt-covered discs. 4 indicates the under-surface of the glass'being polished. Each tool 3 has a shaft 5 which is free to rotate in the bearing 6 and is supported on a thrust bearing 1 of which the lower member is attached to the flexible disc 8 held by the ring 9 to the casing it, which also is supported by the frame I. Each tool therefore is free to rotate, and to move up and down in its bearing 6 insofar as the flexible disc 8 permits.

A pipe I! communicates with each casing I0,

50 and the four pipes H are connected together by a ring pipe [2. This ring pipe is connected by a pipe l3 with a hole M in the shaft 2, and the hole It is connected through a stuffing box IE on the bottom end of the shaft, with a station- 65 ary pipe l6 connected to a water main ll of The line moderate pressure through a valve I8, and connected to a discharge valve I9.

The operation of the device is as follows:-- the discharge valve it being closed, water is admitted by the valve 88, through the pipe sys- 5 tem It, M, l3, l2, H, to all the casings iii, and by the yielding of the flexible discs 8, moves the tools 3 upwards. When the tools have reached their correct working position the valve 58 is closed and, the Water system then being closed, 10 the water supports the four tools as a Whole against any pressure between the glass and the tools. This pressure produces a certain pressure per square inch in the water system which, under normal conditions, is equal in all the casings I0, and therefore ensures that the pressure on the glass of all the tools (assuming these to be of equal size) is the same.

Any one tool is free to yield to unevennesses in the glass, Water being driven to, or taken from, the casings of the other tools, so as to maintain equality of pressure among the tools.

The pipes of the system connecting the casings II) should be of such a size, having regard to the unevennesses of the glass, that appreciable temporary variations in pressure are not caused by restriction of the flow of Water.

The height of the tools can be raised or lowered by opening valves I8 or 9 respectively. Further, the whole polishing tool can be rendered inopera- 0 tive (for instance, when introducing glass into the apparatus) by opening valve l9 fully to allow the tools to fall by their weight below their operative position, and this avoids the necessity of constructing the frame of the polishing tool so that it can be raised or lowered. If the apparatus be used for glass in a vertical plane, the movement of the tools away from the glass can be secured either by spring pressure or by withdrawing water from the system.

Any form of hydraulic press, for instance, a cylinder with plunger, can be used instead of the casings In with flexible discs 8. Since oil or other liquid can be used in place of water, the word hydraulic in the specification and claims is to be understood as including liquids other than water.

Any convenient number of tools may be carried on each polishing tool frame and, where the tools are of different sizes, the relative pressures of the different tools on the glass may be given any desired values by varying the areas of the flexible discs 8.

Instead of connecting the water system externally to a water main, a motor driven pump capable of supplying or withdrawing water to or from the system, from or to a small reservoir, may be mounted on the polishing tool frame.

Having described my invention, I declare that what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. Polishing runner comprising a rotating frame, a plurality of polishing tools mounted thereon and adapted to slide in a direction perpendicular to their operative surfaces, a plurality of hydraulic presses mounted on the frame, a

connection between the movable member of each press and each polishing tool respectively, a communication between the liquid chambers of all the presses and means for preventing during operation of the runner, the flow of liquid to and from the system comprising the liquid chambers and their communications.

2. Polishing runner as in claim 1, comprising means for adjusting to a predetermined value the FREDERIC BARNES WALDRON. 

